Best Luxury Hotels in United Kingdom

Relive the Golden Age of Travel, with a stay at this art deco, nautically-themed hotel just across from the Titanic Experience. It may be a new venue, having opened its doors in 2017, but the building has a long history. This was once the headquarters of Harland & Wolff (the maritime engineers responsible for most of the White Star ocean liners), a heritage reflected in the hotel restaurant’s title. Indeed, the waterfront’s history is woven throughout – lookout for details like the stunning Titanic model in the Harland Bar. The venue received three gongs at this year’s Irish Hotel Awards and was named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel in 2020’s World Travel Awards.

The three hundred rooms of the Grand Central Hotel proffer views over the Lagan Valley and the Mournes beyond. Found in the trendy Linen Quarter, the Hastings Group hotel is ideally placed for the city’s attractions and transport links. Founded in 1893, it became the social hub of Belfast, with guests including Winston Churchill, King Leopold of Belgium, Billy Graham, Al Jolson, Mario Lanza, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones having graced its luxurious suites. The Grand Central’s Seahorse Restaurant and 23rd-floor Observatory bar (Ireland’s tallest cocktail lounge) are destinations in their own right, loved by locals as well as visitors.

Take a five-star, opulent break in Belfast’s buzzing Cathedral Quarter. The Merchant Hotel is housed in a palatial Victorian Grade A listed building (once Ulster Bank HQ), with a glamorous Art Deco wing. Admire the skyline as you unwind in the modern rooftop jacuzzi or work up a sweat in the gym with a view. There’s an abundance of eateries on the doorstep, but inside guests can dine in splendour at The Great Room Restaurant, drink in the award-winning Cocktail Bar or the Cloth Ear. The Merchant is also home to the only live jazz bar in the city and an exclusive fashion boutique.

Originally intended as an abode for the Bishops of Down, this 19th-century estate is found on the outskirts of Belfast. The historic grandeur of the building is contrasted with a modern extension, in the form of the ESPA spa with steam room and hammam. 98 spacious bedrooms provide plenty of room for king-sized beds, desks and bathrooms with rainfall showers. It’s not unusual to find a pianist or harpist playing in the bar or accompanying a meal. And in addition to the top-notch cuisine in the main restaurant, there’s a cosy inn within the grounds, for a beer and bite beside a roaring fire.

Choose from ABode’s trademark room categories: Comfortable, Desirable, Enviable and Fabulous, where parquet flooring, ironwork columns and high Victorian ceilings provide lashings of character. Modern touches such as Marshall Blue tooth speakers, blackout curtains, air conditioning and Nespresso machines (the latter featured in higher-end rooms) make your stay extra comfortable. Themed fifth floor suites are akin to mini apartments and include tuck boxes, mezzanines and spiral staircases. Drinks can be brought to your room and you have the option to order takeout from local delivery services. Brasserie ABode serves guests a ‘Breakfast of Champions’. The hotel is just across the road from Picadilly Station.

King Street Townhouse is a contemporary hotel conveniently located within the upper King Street conservation area of Manchester city centre. The elegant and impressive Italian renaissance building dates back to 1872 and was designed by Edward Salomons, a local architect. Now, a modern ‘baby grand’ hotel and part of the Eclectic Hotel Collection, King Street Townhouse, comprises 40 bedrooms and suites – with a good choice of room type (from snug to Luxe suites) to suit every type of visitor. For those in need of some relaxation, indulge in some time in the unique infinity pool located on the seventh floor and offering stunning views across the city. For those who enjoy a little more activity, there is a small but well-equipped gymnasium for residents to use. From the rooftop terrace to the wine cellar there are exclusive spaces for residents to enjoy cocktails and grazing platters through to tasting menus with a sommelier service. Brunch, Afternoon Tea, wine tasting and all day dining options are available for residents and non-residents to enjoy at The Tavern at King Street – the stylish onsite restaurant. Seasonal menus showcase the finest British cuisine with tasty dishes created from local ingredients. This really is the place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and eat, sip and socialise!

Soaring 47 floors from the ground in the Beetham Tower, this is the place for bird’s eye views. Super central, this Hilton is handy for those preferring to explore on foot and a stay here provides ample opportunity to dress up for the evening.. The aptly named Cloud 23 cocktail bar and Podium restaurant (serving British cuisine) are situated on the 23rd floor; visit in the evening to see Manchester’s dazzling array of lights, as you drink and dine. And if you’d like a touch of VIP hospitality, stay in an Executive Guest bedroom for access to the Executive Lounge.

If you’re a fan of Batman, be it the cartoons or movies, you absolutely must put this on your bucket list. Subtly themed on the superhero, with nods to the character here and there in the form of some classy memorabilia, the identity of this hotel is opulent and sophisticated. Dark colours reign, especially in the mysterious corridors, creating a moody, dramatic atmosphere. The restaurant, Honey, has a menu designed to ‘get you thinking sweet thoughts’ and stunning half-moon feature windows proffering city views. This was once a bank, and now is a grade II listed building overlaid with funky contemporary furnishings.

A multi-million-pound makeover has given this award-winning hotel a new lease of life. Close to the shopping and dining district of Deansgate, the Radisson provides everything you need under one roof: Peter Street Kitchen serving Japanese and Mexican small plates, French cuisine and afternoon teas in The Library by Assouline, superfast WiFi, a spa spread across an entire floor, gym and a 12-metre subterranean pool. 263 rooms and suites come with floor to ceiling windows, handcrafted Vispring mattresses and paraben-free REN toiletries. Found on Peter Street, the metro is five minutes on foot, with Picadilly Station a further 10 minutes away.

You can step back in time to mid-century New York when you enter through the doors of Hotel Brooklyn (past an iconic yellow cab). The nearest you’ll get to the Big Apple without boarding a plane, everything here is reminiscent of the city’s heyday. As such the room decor is quite unique and decidedly cosy. Some rooms are pet friendly, with pricier suites providing a balcony or terrace and freestanding bath. After a day on the town, return to sip manhattans in the bar before bed, mixed by bartenders wearing braces and caps. And you can expect a hearty US-style morning feast when it comes to breakfast time

As the name implies, this Grade II listed building used to be the city’s Stock Exchange (between 1904 and 1906). Tom Kerridge has since taken up culinary residence, with his new in-house restaurant and bar, The Bull & Bear. Here guests can experience grand, yet informal all-day dining under the impressive domed ceiling. Tom has two further dining options in the hotel – The Vault and The Bank Private Dining. The Stock Exchange Hotel’s architecture is fitting with an Edwardian Baroque style, and sleek, contemporary interiors hint at the hotel’s heritage. Push the boat out by booking The Residence, a fully serviced apartment complete with its own roof terrace.

The grade II listed Quebecs Hotel offers the ultimate in comfort in the splendid surroundings of the former Leeds and County Liberal Club. Once through the impressive original entrance with its wrought-iron gates, you’re guaranteed a matchless experience in one of the hotel’s 44 unique rooms, with down-filled pillows and quilts on the comfortable beds. The former porters’ lodge is now a snug lounge bar which is perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon tea or an evening cocktail. That’s if you can be lured away from your sumptuous, well-stocked room.